Ten days left in paradise!

Paradise…… the word connotes an image of white sand, clear blue water and sitting in the sunshine but in all honesty I could not have asked for a better start to 2014. This has been my paradise for three months, I have met some amazing people, become an added member of an amazing Spanish family, got to work with animals and visit some beautiful places. And when I am at the airport on the 10^th of April I am guaranteed to cry not just because I have to say goodbye to my new friends but that I have to say goodbye to this experience and deal with the questions of what now? Where are you going to work next? I do not have the answers and although this prospect is terrifying, I am also grateful to have options and not be stuck somewhere that I am unhappy. I have decided that my main aim in life is to be happy. I want to make a difference no matter how small, I want a job in which I can help people in some way and preferably this will be in the environmental/conservation or farming sector. For now I really do not know and I am going to enjoy my last few weeks not worrying about the future because the present is way more important.

Now a look at the past! Last weekend we went to Cordoba and learnt more about the history of Spain by visiting the Mezquita. This is a combination of a mosque and cathedral that has had a bad case of identity crisis throughout the years. It was a medieval mosque that was then taken over by Catholics and turned into a cathedral. We then went on a hunt for the Roman temple, all of us were very excited as we had never seen one before. We then went for tapas and a mini walking tour around the centre before finishing off with a milkshake! We went out in the nearby town of Baeza on Saturday night and got to experience a slight change of scene. Then on Sunday we recovered by having a picnic in the park.

Work has been really good this week. We had a BBQ with paella on the farm. Paella traditionally is served with seafood but because of my allergies the mum made it with chicken and pork. It was amazing and definitely one of my favourite meals so far! We really do feel like part of the family now and they look out for us. It was great to have our friends come and see where we work. This week we have even made a swimming pool for the duck and said hello to some more piglets!

My last post was about the great aspects of Spanish culture and this blog would not be honest if I did not state the things I will not miss. The first one is not having a car as the buses are at ridiculous times! Secondly is the fact that things never seem to be open when they should be! I can deal with siesta but on numerous occasions we have tried to go a specific tapas bar and museums and they are just not open!  The British person in me just cannot get over this. Overall the good definitely balances out the bad and if I could live and work in Spain at some point in the near future I would be a happy lass! 

This weekend we decided to embrace the parts of Úbeda that we have not seen yet. Yesterday we went  to eat some more of the ‘famous’ churros. Then I visited the Holy Chapel of El Salvador. This is the most famous building in the city and I must admit that I thought I had seen enough churches since I had been here but I had my portable tour guide handset by my side and I was good to go. The chapel was beautiful and was nearly destroyed during the civil war. In the afternoon we tried to visit a museum but of course it was closed! A tapas tour was chosen instead and we went to the place where the largest tapas in Úbeda are served……and it was closed. SO we went to other bars and had some of the tastiest food we have had yet! Everything always works out in the end!

On Sunday we visited the Segura de Sierra within Cazorla National Park. We went with the intention of having a relaxing day bathing in some Turkish baths. Instead we decided to go on a hike up to the castle. We met some locals who played their guitars by the church with their teddy bear dogs running around! I love our random excursions in Spain more than the days that every detail has been planned. Therefore I have no idea what the plans are for the last week but I know that I am going to have good fun doing it with new friends around me!

-Laura